Device for delivering train-orders.



PATENTBD AUG. 29, 1905.

B. CRAIG. DEVICE FOR DELIVERING TRAIN ORDERS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV,12, 1904.

Inventor mmuwv a mum m. moro-unoawuu UNITED STATES PATENT orrion.

DEVICE FOR DELIVERING TRAIN-ORDERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 19050 Application filed November 12, 1904. Serial No. 232,513.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. CRAIG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seymour, in the county of Jackson and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Device for Delivering Train-Orders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for holding and delivering train-orders, messages, and similar like articles to moving trains.

The object of the invention is to enable train-orders and the like to be delivered to trains moving at a high rate of speed in a simple and convenient manner and without danger of injury to the parties involved in passing the order or message.

A further object of the invention is to improve and to simplify the construction of apparatus employed in the delivery of trainorders, messages, and the like.

With these and other objects in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

I11 the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of embodiment of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that the right is reserved to any changes, alterations, and modifications to which recourse may be had within the scope of the invention and without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the chiciency of the same.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the delivering device constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention, the platform' in which the device is mounted being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a perspective View showing the holder of the device and a portion of the rod to which it is attached. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the holder-socket, showing also a portion of the holder and a portion of the supportingrod. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken through one of the arms of the holder. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the supportingsocket. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view of a portion of the extensible supporting-rod. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing a modification.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated by like characters of reference.

The holder H of the improved d evice consists of a fork composed of two divergent arms 1 1, which are preferably constructed of light resilient wood, bamboo, or the like, although metal may be employed, if desired. The inner ends of the arms 1 1 are connected together by means of transverse pins, bolts, or equivalent fastening means 2 2, and the said arms are spaced apart near their inner ends by means of a triangular or other suitablyshaped spacing member 3, whereby the outer or free ends of the arms 1 1 will be suitably spaced apart. Suitably secured upon the arms 1 1. near their outer ends and preferably upon their inner sides, are flat springs 4:, provided with notches 5, which are formed in the edges of said springs upon what may be termed the delivery side of the apparatus. Holdingsprings or clips 6 are also secured upon said arms near their inner ends, and said clips may be extended between the arms and the spacing member 3, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. The inner sides of the arms 1 are preferably grooved longitudinally, as shownat 7 The message to be delivered, which may be in the form of a letter, parcel, roll, or of any other suitable nature and which has been illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings at M, is tied to a string 8, the ends of which are knotted together and which is applied to the holder by inserting parts of said string under the springs 4 4E and in engagement with the notches 5 of said springs, the string or band being also placed in engagement with the clips 6 6, between which the message will be suspended, as shown in Fig. 1. The string or band 8 will thus form an expanded loop, which may be readily seized by the engineer or by one of the crew of a passing train contiguous to which the holder is to be supported. The string or band 8 may be partly accommodated in the grooves 7 in the arms of the holder, and the latter is preferably made of such dimensions that the party receiving themessage may pass his arm through the loop formed by the string 8, which latter, with the message suspended thereon, will be readily detached from the holder.

For the purpose of supporting the holder in a suitable position contiguous to a passing train a holder-receiving socket and a suitable supporting-rod are employed. The supporting-rod is preferably composed of a tubular section 9 and an extension-section 10, telescoping therein, said tubular section being provided with a sleeve 11., secured thereon by means of a set-screw 12, said sleeve having a reduced upper portion for the passage of the extension-section 10, which is secured in adjusted position by means of a wingscrew 13 passing through the reduced portion of the sleeve, as will be clearly seen in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The supporting-rod is mounted in operative position in a socket 14:, which may be embedded in the stationplatform flush with the surface of the latter and sufficiently close to the edge thereof to enable one of the crew of passing trains to receive orders supported in holders connected with the supporting-rod, as clearly seen in Fig. 1. The socket 14 is provided at its upper edge with a flange 15, having apertures 16 for the passage of screws or other fastening'm'eans. Said socket is also provided at or near its lower end with a transverse pin 17 adapted to engage a notch 18in the lower end of the tubular member 9 for the purpose of preventing the latter from turning in the socket. The latter, being open at its lower end, is not liable to become clogged or ob structed.

The extension member 10 of the supporting-rod carries one or more sleeves 19, adapted to be secured in position adjustably by means of set-screws, as 20. Each sleeve 19 has a laterally-extending arm or bracket 21, with which is pivotally connected, as by a bolt 22, an arm 23, extending from a socket 24:. The socket 24: is designed for the reception of the connected ends of the arms 1 1, constituting the holder. The brackets 21 and 22 are provided with alining perforations 25 26 for the reception of a break-pin 27. When said break-pin is in position, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the brackets 21 and 23 will be retained in proper position with relation to each other. In the event of the holder being forcibly struck by any object connected with a train the break-pin 27 will yield and the delivery device will suffer no injury.

Suitably mounted upon the upper endof the extension member 10 of the supporting-rod is a collar 28,'having a hook member 29, upon which a lantern may be suspended, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. When more than one holder is used, a lantern-supporting collar may be used in proximity to each of the holders to serve as signals for the crews of approaching trains.

The operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood-from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawingshereto annexed. The supporting-rod being mounted detachably in the socket 14, it may be removed when not in use, and the section 10 of said rod may be telescoped within the section 9, thus enabling the device to be stored away in small compass. It is obvious that when the supporting-rod is thus telescoped the sleeves 19 and 28 are either detached or moved to the outer end of the member 10. When an order ormessage is to be delivered to a passing train, the supporting-rod is placed in position, as shown in Fig. 1, and the holder in which the string carrying the message has been mounted is adjusted in one of the sockets 24:, the sleeve carrying said socket being moved to the proper position to enable an engineer or a trainmanof a passing train to receive the message, as hereinbefore described. If it is desired to deliver orders or messages to trains swiftly following each other, several of the holders may be used and, if desired, the holders other than that from which the message is to be delivered may be temporarily turned out of the way, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 7 has been shown a slight modification, which consists in applying the holdingspring, which is here designated 4, to the outer instead of to the inner side of the extremity of the arm 1 of the holder. Only a portion of one arm has been shown; but it is ob- 'vious that the spring will be applied in like manner to the extremity of the other arm.

' Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. A holder having two divergent arms, and holding-springs connected with and having free ends bearing upon said arms.

. 2. A holder having divergent longitudinally-grooved arms, and spring-clips connected with and having free ends bearing upon the arms at the ends of the grooves.

3. A holder having longitudinally-grooved divergent resilient arms, and resilient holding means connected with said arms and having free ends bearing upon the latter.

4:. A holder having divergent arms, and spring-clips connected with said arms, said spring-clips being provided with notches in their delivery edges.

5. A holder having divergent arms, a spacing member, and spring-clips interposed between said arms and spacing member.

6. A holder having divergent arms longitudinally grooved in their opposing sides,springclips near the inner endsof said arms, and notched springs near. the outer ends of said arms.

7. A message-holder, means for pivotally supporting the holder, and a break-pin connecting the pivoted members.

8. A message-holder, a socket for said holder, a bracket pivotally supporting said socket, and a break-pin connecting the pivoted members.

9. A message-holder, a socket for said holder having a laterally-extending arm, a suitably-supported sleeve having a bracket, pivotal connecting means for said bracket and socket-arm, and a break-pin connectingsaid members.

10. A message-holder having divergent arms, spring-clips secured upon said arms and having free ends bearing upon the latter, a string having its ends knotted together and engaging and supported by the spring-clips to form an expanded loop, and matter to be delivered connected with said loop.

11. In a device of the class described, a supporting-rod, a sleeve adjustable upon said rod, and a holder connected with said sleeve, and including divergent arms having spring-clips connected therewith.

12. In a device of the class described, a supportingrod, a sleeve connected adjustably with said rod, a socket connected with said sleeve, and a holder engaging the socket.

13. A supporting-rod, a sleeve adjustable upon said rod, a socket connected pivotally with said sleeve, a break-pin, and a holder engaging the socket.

14. An extensible and collapsible supporting-rod, a sleeve connected adjustably with said rod, a socket connected with the sleeve by a pivot and a break-pin, and a holder engaging the socket.

15. A supporting-rod, a sleeve adjustable upon said supporting-rod, a holder supported by the sleeve, and an auxiliary sleeve adjustable upon the rod and having a lantern-supporting hook.

16. A socket open at its lower end and having a transverse pin, a supporting member engaging said socket and provided at its lower end with a notch engaging the transverse pin, and a holder connected with said supporting member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEO. B. CRAIG.

Witnesses:

ADOLPH STEINWEDEL, ATHEs GABARD. 

